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A nice roundup of some of the dumbest things the TSA did in 2008

by Scott Carmichael (RSS feed) on Dec 16th 2008 at 1:00PM

The TSA has made quite a name for itself when it comes to making stupid decisions. Whether it is forcing a mom to drink her own breast milk, or claiming a thin laptop could be a dangerous weapon, when the TSA screws up, they tend to screw up quite badly.

I've compiled some of the best TSA screwups we reported on here on Gadling in 2008.

Do not try and bring a gun through the checkpoint (unless you work for the TSA)

Can you imagine what would happen if you tried to sneak a gun past the security checkpoint? All hell would break loose, probably involving a complete terminal shutdown and a taser.

Unless of course you work for the TSA.

Back in April, Justin wrote about the TSA agent who smuggled a gun through the checkpoint. Instead of being fired, the agent was merely suspended for 30 days. Brilliant.

* * *

Mock bomb passes through the checkpoint - CNN was there to document it

What is worse than an incompetent checkpoint that misses a mock bomb strapped to a TSA agent? Having the incident filmed on CNN!

When CNN got up close and personal with TSA undercover agent "Jason", they probably did not expect to document someone sneaking a fake bomb past the security staff.

* * *

1000's of TSA uniforms and badges unaccounted for

October brought us the brilliant story of the TSA coming to the conclusion that they have lost track of thousands of uniforms and badges. Not just any old badge; these badges actually provide access to secure areas of the airport.

Apparently the TSA did not have a suitable system in place to check that retiring (or fired) agents were actually returning their stuff. So, while they are busy making sure you don't bring dangerous bottled water on the plane, potential terrorists might be out there buying real TSA uniforms.

* * *

Is that an Apple branded bomb in your bag?

When Apple released their new ultra-thin laptop, I doubt anyone at the design department ever thought that the TSA might confuse the sleek lines of the Macbook Air with a bomb.

Apparently the TSA had not been keeping up with the latest technologies enough to understand that a thin computer does not always have to be an explosive device.

* * *

Breasts + nipple rings + pliers = TSA embarrassment

One of the more high profile stories involving the TSA this year, was an incident involving breasts and nipple rings.

While these 2 usually make for a steamy story that beings with "Dear Penthouse...", this incident was quite embarrassing for the TSA.

When Mandi Hamlin passed through the checkpoint, she set off the handheld metal detector wand. Instead of just asking for a manual search by a female agent, the male TSA agents decided it would much more fun to give Mandi a pair of pliers and demand that she remove her nipple rings.

Once Gloria Allred go involved, the TSA announced it would change the way it screens passengers with body piercings.

* * *

Greed knows no boundaries with this TSA agent

In September, I reported on a TSA agent who was helping himself to goodies from our luggage. Not content with low priced items like MP3 players and digital cameras, this idiot thought it would be cool to snag himself a $47,000 HD video camera from HBO.

As with most thieves, this guy got caught when he became too greedy. The FBI purchased one of his items off Ebay, and apprehended him.

* * *

TSA behavior detection, detects not much more than that

In 2006, the TSA started a highly promoted "behavior detection program" which involved training their agents to detect terrorists based on nothing more than suspicious behavior.

In total, 160,000 people were flagged by this method, resulting in just 1,266 arrests. Aaron covered this waste of time and tax money in November including a priceless quote from a Carnegie Mellon professor who calls the program "a sham".

* * *

Sprained ankle? Prove it!

It's bad enough when the antics at your checkpoint are merely annoying, it's another when the screeners actually cause bodily harm.

That is what happened to Lorna Dunlap at Pasco, WA airport and Jeffrey wrote about this insane incident back in October.

Poor Lorna has sprained her ankle, forcing her to travel with a leg brace. Apparently, the screener wanted more proof of this injury, so told her to remove her leg brace and stand on one leg.

The stupidity caused her to fracture her leg in 2 places, but I'm sure she's relieved to hear that the TSA is "looking into it".

* * *

Another breast related incident

The TSA really seems to have a problem with breasts. When you read what happened to Nancy Kates, you'd probably suspect that the TSA agents all received a memo warning about boobie bombs.

Nancy is a big-busted woman, but when her underwire set off the metal detector, it was the beginning of a 40 minute dispute that resulted in her having to explain to a TSA supervisor how the Constitution works.

In the end, the TSA was so kind as to let her simply remove her bra and go through the checkpoint again, but that didn't stop her from making sure the entire world got to read her story.

Despite the TSA's best intentions, what strange things have been found on planes?

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)

Drew Dec 16th 2008 4:07PM

You forgot "sensitive instrument probes"-as-steps at O'Hare:

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=5613502&page=1

Kent Wien Dec 17th 2008 1:11AM

I'm with Drew. Using a temperature probe as a foot step on nine airplanes, grounding them all, tops the list this year.

"Just following routine procedures, the TSA spokesman said. Did nothing wrong."

I thought they were here to protect us?

Lori Dec 19th 2008 5:13PM

Hey, I have some advice for all the less than intelligent people that are complaining about the TSA...you in no way are obligated to fly. There are procedures that are in place for a reason. It is better to err on the side of caution. If that laptop that looked suspicious or the lady with a baby that they just let go because they do not meet the "profile" did have a bomb you would bitch about the fact that they are not checking everybody/everything that came through the checkpoint. Remember how everybody felt after 9/11. Everybody was happy with the extra security measures. Now that years have gone by, people are falling into the "USA's invincible" mode once again.

Vicki Dec 17th 2008 3:41PM

I have a hard time with the whole piercings and bra stories. What kind of materials are they wearing. I have body piercings and I wear bras with underwires, not once have I ever had my piercings or bras set off the detectors at that airports.

skitz630 Dec 19th 2008 2:37PM

Vicki-

I wear underwire bras, and have both of my nipples pierced. They have once or twice set off the hand-detectors (never the walk-through kind) but normally the TSA person is smart enough to know that the bra set it off, do the little back-of-the-hand pat down around my bra, and let me be off.

Moongrim Dec 18th 2008 7:30AM

Not all piercings are made of diagmagnetic materials. The detectors can also be set too sensitive, so sometimes they'll even pick up teeth braces. (Yes).

TSA is the legacy government expansion of George W. Bu$h. Are you really THAT surprised at what's been going on?

I'm not. I work at an airport, and I've seen things go on that would put this article to shame.

steve326m Dec 18th 2008 11:26AM

Then by all means, please feel free to tell us.

Little Eva Dec 19th 2008 5:41PM

I happen to be a Dem but blaming GW for the these goofs is moronic!! I can think of a dozen valid things to blame him for -- but not stupid mistakes or misconduct at our ports!!

Audrey Dec 20th 2008 9:18PM

The Airlines wonders why no one is flying anymore- after the way TSA treats people and then the flight attendances finish up making our trips memorial. Thanks but NO THANKS.....I will drive and have now make a trip from East down to Texas and back again...a much better way to go!!

Mark Dec 19th 2008 2:27PM

Here's my TSA story. I was going through the metal detector at STL when I heard a crash. Seems the TSA idiot dropped my laptop on the floor. I turned around in time to see him pick it back up and put it back in the tray. I powered it up and the display screen was a mess of black blobs. I asked them what they were going to do about it, and they said nothing. When I got to my destination, I called the supervisor back in STL and he admits they "probably" dropped it, it's probably on the video tape records, but they're not going to do anything about it because I can't prove that it wasn't like that before I gave it to them! I called all the way up to Homeless Security in DC, and got the same answer all along the line! Talk about an agency run amok with no scrutiny!

kelly cadden Dec 19th 2008 3:09PM

Dear Mark. STL TSA should have given you a comment card for which you document the incident and mail it into TSA Headquarters. They in turn do a check on comparible laptops and reimburse you. Seattle airport does this for any personal property that was damaged due to situations like that. However, some passengers place their laptops on top of all the other stuff when it goes thru the x-ray, the lead curtains will push the laptop to the very edge of the bin, as it clears the x-ray it'll fall on the floor. TSA not responsible in that case as laptops are supposed to be placed in a bin with nothing else. Go to TSA.gov and inform them of what occured in your case. They will check it out and reimburse you if that is the case.

ashleyislegend Dec 19th 2008 6:24PM

Last year I had gone on a month long trip to the middle east and Europe, and had a couple days in NYC. I got to the airport to go home and as I was checking in, security decided I was a terrorist (I dont fit the new profile at all) and took my suitcase, and went through all of my underwear (a month long trip without a washer machine has an effect on your clothes by the way) held it up to the lights and inspected it carefully, then put all of my dirty clothes on a pile on the ground. Once they decided I had nothing, they just left me there, to put everything back without apologizing. I would have been semi ok with this if they didnt do it right there at the check in counter in front of everyone.

They later assumed that my body piercings were a risk to other people and strip searched me. Again no apology.

rlajb Dec 19th 2008 2:25PM

I was checked by a TSA agent in San Francisco who kept setting off the hand held wand with his own shoe buckle. He would pass the wand down my legs then pull off toward his shoe. Of course, the alarm went off so he made me take off my shoes and the noise continued. I pointed at his shoes but he didn't understand english and didn't know what I was saying. He finally let me by and I watched as he did the same thing to the next few people.

matt Dec 19th 2008 4:04PM

Dude Frisco is one of the 5 airports that still have private ecurity screeners. People its not all that bad and all of the airports.

Tench Dec 19th 2008 2:37PM

If your name is "Robert", but you go by "Bob"; if your name is "Thomas" but you go by "Tom"; if your name is "Richard", but you go by "Dick"; and so on...you get the picture. A passport or driver's license may very well have your given name printed on it, but your boarding pass has your "go by" name. That is very suspicious to about 3 TSA agents per year that I run across, leading to an intense detailed search of me, the potential bad guy. Typically, the agent that pulls me over because the first name on my boarding pass does not match the first name on my passport, does not have full command of the English language; speaking or hearing (which causes problems on their own). I am now to the point where I bring this to the attention of the TSA supervisor; he or she usually gets a good laugh out of it and tries to correct / educate the TSA rep. Will this ever stop? Or is this new found authority just too much to yield to logic?

Kelly Dec 19th 2008 3:08PM

Did you know that one of the biggest growing criminal activities is in the nation? Identity theft. So, would you prefer to have your indentity verified or complain about TSA if we allowed someone to use your I.D. to get thru? This has happened! More times then you would believe. Please realize, the reason you hear so much bad news about TSA is because BAD NEWS SELLS. You don't hear good stuff, or criminals that have been caught. Its not important, or the FAA doesn't want it reported that a criminal tried to get on an airplane. It causes fear in the flying public.

Marty Tarver Dec 20th 2008 10:35AM

Hey, buy a ticket with same name of the ID you're using.

zigy Feb 27th 2009 9:42PM

my legal name is longer -- but VERY similar to my "go by" name.

after a number of delays at TSA initial check (the person at the end of the line who looks at your boarding pass and DL), i finally have my boarding pass printed in my legal name and that takes care of that. in the past i would have continued to use my "go by" name, but it is just tedious to explain every time.

Kimberly Dec 19th 2008 6:59PM

I am really tired of all the bad mouthing of TSA. EVERY agency, every JOB for that matter has it's screw ups. I used to work in an airport and I had my fair share of annoyances while going to work. However, I am the first to say that with all the annoyances I saw a lot of great things. The Mac book being a bomb, well HAD it been and they let it go simply because it had the apple logo on it and then it blew up what would you say to that "Stupid TSA lets Apple bomb though"? I mean come on they can do NO right it seems. I agree there are some bad stories out there but that does not discount EVERY SINGLE action ANY TSA Officer makes.